Container-dispensers



Aug. 7, 1956 F. E. M. HAAFKENS 2,757,671

` CONTAINER-DISPENSERS Filed Jan. 29, 1953 V E91 j? Arran/YS United States Patent O i 2,757,671 CONTAINER-DISPENSERS Ferdinand Eduardv Martin Haafkens, Utrecht, Nether-l lands, assignor to Unicura N. V., O'ss, Netherlands, a

company-of the Netherlands This invention relates to container-dispensers comprising an ampoule of thermoplastic material having secured thereto a tube which is not in communication with the interior of the ampoule. The tube may be a hypodermic needle to 'provide a container-dispenser in the form of a hypodermic syringe, :or it may have rounded endsl and', if desired, be soft and flexible to provide, for example, a container-dispenser in the form of an eye dropper. In use, communication is establishedI bet-Ween the tube and the interior-of the ampoule, and the ampoule contents are then dispensed through the tube by squeezing the ampoule.

It will be evident that movement of the tube during application-whether the container-dispenser is in the form of a hypodermic syringe or in the form of an eye dropper-is objectionable. Such movement is caused by squeezing of the ampoule and is particularly severe if considerable pressure is required or if the ampoule can only be emptied by being kneaded.

It is an object of the present invention to provide improvements in container-dispensers which facilitate the emptying of the ampoule.

According to the present invention there is provided a container-dispenser comprising a substantially tubular ampoule of thermoplastic material having a substantially rigid neck and a tube secured in the said neck, which tube is not in communication with the interior of the ampoule, the ampoule being attened and the two major opposite sides formed by said attening gradually approaching one another as they approach the neck.

The ampoule has preferably an oval cross'section, in which case the minor axis is gradually reduced as it appreaches the neck. The two major opposite sides of the ampoule are preferably provided with iiats.

It is also preferred that one of the major sidesl of the ampoule is less rigid than the other.

Preferred embodiments of container-dispensers according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 shows a plan view `of a container-dispenser in the form of a hypodermic syringe,

Fig. 2 shows an elevation of the container-dispenser lshown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 shows a cross-section of the neck of the container-dispenser shown in Figs. 1 and 2,

Fig. 4 shows a cross-section -on the line IV-IV of the container-dispenser shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 shows a cross-sectional plan View of an alternative form of a container-dispenser in the form of a hypodermic syringe, v

Fig. 6 shows an elevation partly in section of the container-dispenser shown in Fig. 5, and

Fig. 7 shows a cross-section of a portion of a container- I dispenser in the form of an eye dropper.

Like reference numerals will be used to designate like parts.

Referring to Figs. 1-4, the container-dispenser has an ampoule 1 of thermoplastic'material, for example, polylP'ajzen'ted Aug. 7, 1956 ICC ethylene. yThe ampoule has a substantially rigid neck 2 provided with a duct 3. 'I'he `tube 4, in the form of a hypodermicneedle, is secured in the duct'3 by a close tit. The duct 3 is separated from the interior of the ampoule by a separator inthe formof'a thin membrane 5 integral with the ampoule. The diameter of the duct 3 adjacent to the membrance 5 is reduced to a smallercross-section 6 to prevent the needle piercing the membrane on insertion. This reduction of the cross-section creates aY shoulder 7 which acts as a stop for the needle. The two opposite sides of the ampoule which approach one another 4 is provided for piercing the membrane 5. The wire 10 is provided with a disc 12 which protects the end of the needle -against shock. The neck and tube` is covered" by a protective cover 11' of thermoplastic materialiwllichV lfits ont-o the` outside of theneck .2., i I i The container-dispenser,V is lledl't'hrough the bottom of the ampoule 1v` whiclii's'open priorto iilling. Thiegbottom of the ampouleis thenY heat-sealed by a seaml 13'a`t right angles to the longitudinal axis of the containerdispenser and parallel to the ilats 8 and 9, any excess liquid being forced out of the ampoule during sealing. The length of the major axis of the ampoule, that is the axis parallel to the seam 13 is substantially constant throughout the length of the ampoule.

The container-dispenser shown in Figs. S and 6 differs from that shown in Figs. l-3 by the shape of the ampoule and by the means of securing the tube 4 in the substantially rigid neck. As before, the seam 13 is at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the container-dispenser, but the length of the major axis is not constant.

The tube 4, which is in the form of a hypodermic needle, s secured in a needle holder 14. The needle may be inserted into the needle holder 14 with a close lit 0r the'holder may be moulded round the needle. ln order to lock the needle holder 14 in the neck, the outer end of the duct 3 is provided with a narrow part 15. The needle holder 14 is rounded at 16 to enable the narrow part 15' to be deformed to permit insertion of the holder. The shoulder 7 now serves as a stop for the needle holder.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 7, in which the tube is relatively soft and ilexible is intended, for example, for use as an eye dropper. The tube 4, which may be of nylon, is secured in the duct 3 of the neck 2. The tube may be coloured to indicate the contents of the ampoule. In thisy embodiment the protective cover 12 is so shaped that it closes the end of the tube 4. Thus even when the membrane 5 has been pierced with the stiff wire, which in the embodiment having this type of cover is provided separately, the cover also acts as a closure for the tube. v

I claim:

1. A container-dispenser comprising in combination a substantially tubular ampoule of thermoplastic material having a substantially rigid neck and a tube secured in the said neck, which tube is not in communication with the interior of theampoule, the ampoule being provided with two major opposite sides which gradually approach one another as they approach the neck, one of the said major sides of the ampoule being less rigid than the other.

2. A container-dispenser comprising in combination a substantially tubular ampoule of thermoplastic material having a substantially rigid neck and a hypodermic needle secured in the said neck, which hypodermic needle is not in communication with the interior of the ampoule, the

ampoule being provided with two major opposite sides which gradually approach -one another as they approach the neck, one of the said major sides being less rigid than the other.

3. A container-dispenser comprising in combination a substantially tubular ampoule of thermoplastic material having a substantially rigid neck and a hypodermic needle secured in the said neck, which hypodermic needle is not in communication with the interior of the ampoule, the ampoule being provided with two major at sides which approach one another as they approach the neck, one of the major sides being less rigid than the other.

4. A container-dispenser comprising in combination a substantially tubular ampoule of thermoplastic material having a substantially rigid neck and a hypodermic needle secured in the said neck, which hypodermic needle is not in communication with the interior of the ampoule, the cross-section of the ampoule being oval, said ampoule having two major opposite sides gradually approaching one another as they approach the neck, one of the major sides being less rigid than the other.

5. A container-dispenser comprising in combination a substantially tubular ampoule of thermoplastic material having a substantially rigid neck, a hypodermic needle secured in the said neck, a puncturable membrane integral with the ampoule to prevent communication between the interior of the ampoule and the hypodermic needle, and a stit wire situated in the said hypodermic needle for piercing the membrane, the ampoule being provided with two maior opposite sides which gradually approach one another as they approach the neck, oneof the said major sides being less rigid than the other.

6. A container-dispenser comprising in combination a substantially tubular ampoule of thermoplastic material having a substantially rigid neck, a hypodermic needle secured in the said neck, a puncturable separator arranged to prevent communication between the interior of the ampoule and the hypodermic needle, and a stit wire situated in the said hypodermic needle for piercing the separator, the ampoule being provided with two major opposite sides which gradually approach one another as they approach the neck, one of the said maior sides being less rigid than the other. i

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,438,487 Greene Dec. l2, 1922 1,522,198 Marcy Ian. 6, 1925 1,687,502 Marcy Oct. 16, 1928 2,219,301 Erhard Oct. 29, 1940 2,255,833 Taylor Sept. 16, 1941 2,399,796 Freedman May 7, 1946 2,504,127 Hulsman Apr. 18, 1950 2,577,321 Pilger Dec. 4, 1951 2,625,157 Lockhart 1an. 13, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 246,840 Switzerland Ian. 3l, 1947 

